Prison regime ‘possibly the very worst’ ever seen by inspectors

Suicides double in five years, five ambulance calls out a day to a prison in Bristol because of drug use, and a sixth death in one London prison alone in the past year. And if it couldn’t get any worse it does. Today, yet another damning report by the prison inspectorate into a failing prison which will test Liz Truss’s resolve on how quickly she can respond.

In fact, everything happening in the jail system is now a test of how quickly the Ministry of Justice can respond. Lives are at stake. Yet the prison service is simply treading water.

Hindley HMP outside Wigan used to be a young offenders institution, but was converted into cat C prison two years. Its first unannounced inspection over 11 days in July is within millimetres of labelling it the worst prison in England and Wales.

The regime for over 500 prisoners, it states is “possibly the very worst inspectors had ever seen in this type of prison.”

The report states that it is “far easier” to get hold of drugs than clean clothes, sheets or books from the library.

The situation it went on was “actually disabling and disempowering the aspirations of prisoners and many staff alike.”

Inspectors found most prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 24 hours. Residential wings in landings and cells were mouldy and filthy.

Levels of violence were very high, over 20 assaults a month. Self harm incidents were running at three a week.

20-year-old Stephen Connell was found hanged in his cell in Hindley in February this year – one of a record 102 prisoners who have taken their own lives this year. The inspectors found recommendations to improve safety for vulnerable prisoners at Hindley still had not been implemented.

The Justice Select Committee is embarking on its major inquiry into prison reform today. But that too can’t respond quick enough. The Justice Secretary Liz Truss has really only one short term option, reduce the prison population or too many more will die.

Michael Spurr, the chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said, “Since the inspection a detailed improvement plan was developed to address the weaknesses identified by inspectors and this is being closely monitored.

“Progress has been made to improve safety and purposeful activity with more prisoners engaged in high quality work and training opportunities.”

Topics

Tweets by @simonisrael

3 reader comments

Deanna Manningsays:

I’m a mother of a prisoner it so bad they are treating them like animals how are they going to learn and be reform if the prison office are not doing there job they have a duty of care to every prisoner the ones that are mental I’ll and suffer other proublem are not on hospital wings vanerbal people are being bullied the hold justice system is a joke and need action now before moor prisoners are dead

No changes been made at all each trying to cover one another backs poor Steve Connell was a lovely lad never went round looking for trouble for him to take his own life the kid has been terrorized horrible vile people hope they all rot.Prison officers turn blind eye has there to scared to act out tell me pick a bunch out of Walton to act as prison officers they do better job

I think we forget that these people are prisoners because they have committed a crime which is serious enough to warrant a prison sentence. They are not in prison to enjoy themselves and I seriously do not agree with prisoners having mobile phones! Good honest people who have worked hard struggle to make ends meet in the outside world, some families not knowing where the next meal will come from for their children. We must remember the affect some prisoners have had on peoples lives. They have robbed and beaten innocent people, taken lives of children and parents alike. These peoples lives will never be the same. Please don’t moan about the fact they are locked up for up to 23 hours a day. Those who have taken life or given beatings punish innocent victims and their families forever and a day. There is no reprieve for these families. Simply answer, don’t commit the crime if you can’t do the time!!! Stop feeling sorry for yourselves and remember the grief you have left behind while you have a stress free world to live in without bills and a three good meals a day. Bring back gruel and maggots, maybe they wouldn’t be so keen to re offend if times were hard in prison. . . As for human rights . . They gave those up when they committed the crime.